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baby!” Adrienne gasped as she bent over Linda and cupped her face in her hands. “Sweetheart, are you all right? Aunt Beth told me what happened.”
    Linda’s eyes lost their vacant look as she focused on her mother’s face and then reached for her.
    “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry for what Lewis and Janet have done to you,” Adrienne said as she put her arms around her daughter.
    Linda’s whole body was shaking. She sniffled, and tears began streaming down her cheeks. She made an effort to say something, but it wouldn’t come out. Finally she broke into heavy sobs.
    “Go ahead, honey, cry. Let it out.”
    Linda sobbed loudly for a minute or so, then grew quiet and wept softly.
    The preacher looked pale as he said, “I’ve got to go out there and make the necessary announcement, but before I go, I want to pray for Linda.”
    Stanford laid one hand on Linda’s shoulder and the other on Adrienne’s, and called on the Lord to give comfort to Linda. He asked for God’s loving hand to touch her heart, give her peace, and help her remember that Jesus said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
    “And, Lord, please give strength to Nolan and Adrienne. They’re hurting in one way for what their oldest daughter has done to Linda, and in another way because of what Janet has turned out to be. We pray for Janet’s salvation, Lord, and that you will quickly show her how much she needs you in her life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
    To his wife, Stanford said, “Doris, would you see that the bridesmaids and the rest of the bridal party come into the sanctuary, please? I want everyone to hear me make the announcement.”
    The Stanfords moved to the door together, then the preacher turned and said, “Linda, the Lord loves you. Doris and I love you. Your parents and Aunt Beth love you. The people of this church love you.”
    The bereaved girl looked at him through a wall of tears and nodded silently.
    When the Stanfords stepped out of the room, Doris headed for the door across the hall, and Lloyd made a beeline for his office.
    The groomsmen and best man jumped to their feet when the pastor came in, and waited for him to speak.
    “Gentlemen,” Stanford said, “the wedding is off.”
    “What’s happened to Lewis, Pastor?” asked Frank Simons.
    “All of you come out onto the platform with me. You can hear it at the same time I tell it to the people out there.”
    The crowd in the sanctuary was buzzing above the sound of the pump organ as Stanford emerged from his office onto the platform with four dismal-looking young men behind him. They halted a few feet behind the flowered white lattice arch as the preacher stepped in front of it.
    In the Sunday school room, Linda Forrest found her voice and said, “Mom, Daddy … would you take me home now, please? I don’t want to be here when the people come out of the sanctuary. I don’t want anyone to see me.”
    “Sure, honey,” Nolan said. “Let’s go, Adrienne.”
    “I’ll stay here,” Beth said. “It’s best that the three of you have some private time together.”
    The buzzing trailed off in the sanctuary when Pastor Stanford appeared and moved to the center of the platform. He gave a hand signal for Letha to stop playing the organ. The music stopped abruptly. Stanford waited a few seconds for Doris and the bride’s attendants to enter the sanctuary from the vestibule, noting that Beth Chalmers came in behind them and stood by the open doors. He then ran his solemn gaze over the faces of the crowd.
    “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, the words coming with difficulty past the lump in his throat, “I am sorry to have to make this announcement, but there will be no wedding here today.”
    There were gasps, moans, and groans as the people looked around at each other. Then there was a low rumble as everyone began talking at once.
    An obviously upset Stanford held up his hand and went on. “I amnot at liberty to give you any more information at this